Sealing machine



Dec. 8, 1936. c E1SLER 2,063,235

' SEALING MACHINE Fil'ed June 4, 1935 i 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY I " ATTORN Dec. 8, 1936; c. EISLER 2,063,235

SEALING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR Dec. 8, 1936. c. EIS LE R I 2,063,235

SEALING- MACHINE Filed June 4, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet I5 I INVE NTOR ATTORNEY? Dec. 8, 1936. v c. EISLER 2,063,235

SEALING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 I z mvau'rom 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 @2 INVENTOR I Dec; 8, 1936.

C. ElSLER SEALING MLACHINE Filed June 4, 1955- Ill) 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 n 0 mau -Ila" .8 60 |NYENTOR I: ATTORNg C. EISLER SEALING MACHINE Dec. 8, 1936.

8 t e m S W m S Filed June 4, 1935 g I IQVENTQR BY ATTORNEY v C. EISLER SEALING MACHINE Dec. 8, 1936.

Filed June 4, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR ATTO RNEY.

Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEALING MACHINE Charles Eisler, South Orange, N. .1. Application June 4, 1935, Serial No. 24,856

Claims. (01. 49-4) This invention relates to a sealing machine in which the stems and bulbs of light or radio lamps are assembled and which machine also stretches the neck of the bulb by means of the 5 stem and removes the cullet from the bottom of the bulb.

The machine is of the rotary type by which the bulb is subjected to flame from burners by successive presentation of the bulb to the burners and in which the only manual operations are the insertion of the stem and bulb separately and the removal of these parts after sealing.

The invention relates, further, to a machine of this kind in which a gutter around the machine which gutter receives the cullets and glass fragmentsis unobstructed to enable a wiper to travel in the gutter to keep it clean. This is possible by reason of the construction which confines the heads and associated parts substantially to the lateral dimension of the cover with which they rotate.

Another feature of the invention is the head which holds the parts to be sealed and which automatically causes cullets or glass fragments to pass into the gutter from the heads thus eliminating any necessity oi? the operator handling these parts which are hot when released or broken.

The invention also resides in various details of construction which are more fully set forth in the specification hereinafter and also embodied in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, Figure l is a side view of a machine embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a top view of the machine shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged section of the upper part of the machine taken on line 3-3 in Figure 2. Figure 4 isa detail view of a double cam for actuating the parts of the head. Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a cam used in longitudinal regulation of parts of the heads. Figure '7 is a section on line L4 in Figure 3. Figure 8 is a detail view of a cam used in advancing the rotating cover. Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 in Figure 3. Figure 10 is a section taken on line llI-l0 in Figure 3. Figure 11 is a section taken on line ll-ll in Figure 3. Figure 12 is a 50 section taken on line 12-42 in Figure 3. Figure 13 is a large vertical central section of one of the heads in position for receiving or releasing the stem. Figure 14 is a section on line 14-44 in Figure 13. Figure 15 is a section on line l5-l5 5 in Figure 13. Figure 16 is a view similar to F18- ure 13 showing the parts grasping the stem and holding it in place by gravity. Figure 17 is a section of the head showing the air admission channel and the gravity means for stretching the neck of the sealed bulb just before the severing and re- 5 moval of the cullet. Figure 18 is a top view of the top of the head that supports the flare-of the stem. Figure 19 is a side view of the head shown 7 in Figure 13. i

The machine comprises a central standard l0, 0 which centrally supports a tray H which has a peripheral wall 12 outside of which is the' gutter l3. The gutter i3 is annular and extends all around the machine. The gutter is provided with an outlet H (see Figure 9) down which broken 15 glass and other material deposited in the gutter passes as this material is wiped around in the gutter. The machine also comprises a cover [5 which carries the bulb holders and rotates with a step-by-step movement. The bulb-holders are 20 within the dimensions of the cover and do not interfere with the gutter. A brush or wiper I8 is secured to the cover and approximately fits the inside of the gutter and is the means whereby the material that drops into the gutter is passed along 25 and drops down into the outlet Hi.

The cover It is rotated by a step-by-step movement in order to carry the bulbs and stems around the machine and halt them the proper length of time opposite suitable burners. shown has a motor I1 mounted on the side of the standard 10 which drives a pulley l8 (see Figure 3) which in turn operates the worm l9 and worm gear 20 loose on the shaft 2|. A clutch 22 is operable by a handle 23 (Figure l) to connect and 35 disconnect the shaft 2| from the worm gear 20. The shaft 2| extends up into the chamber formed by tray II and the cover 15 and is provided with a worm 24 operating a worm gear 25 (see Figure 5)v which, by the gears 26 operates the shaft 21 extending across the machine and having a cam 23 which is under a plate" 29 secured under the cover 55 and thereby driving the cover. The plate and cover rotate on a central stud 30 projecting from the top of the standard 10. The plate 29 has a set of buttons 3| arranged near its periphery which buttons fit into the groove 32 of the cam 23. As will be seen from Figure 8 this groove has a helical part and straight ends which ends are spaced apart to insure the engagement of one button before the one ahead is released. This cam causes the rotation of the cover and its heads and insures theproper extent of time in halting the bulbs opposite the burners. 55

The machine 30 These burners are the usual burners spaced as shown in Figure 2 assuming the cover is rotating counter-clockwise. The burners are shown at 33 and supplied from air and gas headers 34 and 35 which extend around the outside of gutter I4 and part way around the machine and supplied by suitable piping indicated at 36.

The tray I I is also provided with a set of bearings 37 arranged in a curved line and supporting shafts 38 on the top of which are friction pulleys and on the bottom and outside the tray are sprockets 4i). These sprockets are driven by a chain 4| which passes around them and also around a sprocket 42 on the shaft 2| which drives I this'series of sprockets. The friction pulleys 39 are located in positions opposite the burners in order to engage parts of the heads for rotating the heads and the bulbs they carry when the bulbs are halted in front ofthe burners and thus subjected all around to heat that eventually severs the cullet at the bottom and curls up the head which is slightly stretched before the bulb is finished and released from the machine.

The elements that convey the bulbs and stems are each comprised of a head 43 having a top surface 44 that is inclined and the function of which inclined surface in shedding discarded material into the gutter will be more fully gone into later. The head 43 is provided with posts 45 with sufllcient space between them for comfortable and safe handling of the parts to be assembled as these posts become very hot. The posts support a bulb holder 46 adjustably fastened by screws 41 and centrally perforated to receive and support the bulb 48. The bulb holder has upwardly extending posts 49 which support the tilting leaves 59 with adjusting screws 5|. These allow adjustment for receiving various shapes and sizes of bulbs and also centers them in the holder and holds them against tilting.

The heads revolve freely on the cover I I and I show them provided each with a boss 52 fitting in a bearing 53 and riding on a ball bearing 54 which is protected by an apron 55 against the 45 entrance of broken glass or other fragments.

The boss 52 extends below the bearing and is provided with a friction pulley 56 which rides in the same plane as the pulleys 39 and is ro-' tated each time it halts which is whenv it is in contact with a pulley 39.

The clamp and holder for the lamp stem 51 and its flare 58 which also carries the cane and its filaments comprises two parts, a sleeve 59 slidable in the boss 52 and a hollow bar 69 slidable in the sleeve 59. The reasons for the sliding vertical movement of these parts are first, to elevate the bulb and its associated parts at the proper time for the action of the flame, second, for automatically causing the operation of a clamp for the stem for both its grasping and its release, and third, for releasing the sleeve from support which allows it to act by gravity after the sealing of the neck and the severing of the cullet or skirt and thus stretch the semi-plastic neck of the bulb by means of the fiare on the stem.

The sleeve 59 and the bar 60 both ride on cams, the sleeve sometimes rinding clear of its cam in order that its weight acts on the neck of the bulb to stretch the neck. For the purpose of riding on the cams the bar 60 has a shoe 6| wide as the cam 82 and the sleeve 59 has a shoe 53 which is broader in order to engage the cam 84 beyond the cam 82. These cams are circular and are arranged on the inner face of the wall It.

The clamp shown consists of spring arms with a natural spring tendency outwardly which arms are secured to the outside of the bar 39 and hawing Jaws 65 projecting through slots into the inside bore of the hole or rod 88 to form a clamp. The Jaws are normally separated due to a considerable clearance between the sleeve 59 and the bar 58 at this point. The sleeve, however, has a tapered part 61 above the Jaws. When the parts are moved to bring the tapered part 51 against the jaws they are pushed in and the stem 51 is clamped in place. The weight of the sleeve and its parts is sufficient to cause this clamping by gravity to firmly hold the stem 5.1. When the sleeve 59 is raised or the bar 88 depressed the clamp is released.

The bar 59 is provided at the top with a tip 58 which has the undercut portion 99 and the slotted top III, the slots extending radially. The top engages the flare II of the stem of the lamp and-the slots I5 act as air channels for air that passes up through the hollow center I2 of the tip and through the channel I3 of the bar. The air is admitted at the proper time in sealing at which time the head is above the air pipe I4 which is seen in Figure 17 and also shown in Figure 1, as leading from the air header 34 and provided with a valve 15 for shutting off the air when it is not needed.

It will be evident that the movement of the sleeve and bar in the head is sufficient to convey the tip 68 below the inclined surface 44 of the platform 43 thus offering no obstruction to the automatic shedding of the cullet or any glass fragments. The tips 38 are replaceable and are held in place by suitable means such as the screw I5.

The cams 92 and '64 are shown in diagram in Figure 6. The low point at a in Figure 6 corresponds with a point a in Figure 2 at which the operation of the machine begins, that is, this point is where the operator sits and supplies the machine with a filament and a bulb after removing the assembled parts previously inserted. This point is also indicated at a in Figure -5 at which space the'cam 24 is not provided and the cam 22 is at its lowest point. This lowcam place allows both the sleeve and bar to be down to their low positions shown in Figure 13.

In order to raise the sleeve 59 up and over the rise TI on the cams (see Figure 6) I employ the mechanism shown more particularly in Figures 10, 12 and 4. The parts are lifted by a finger I8 which engages the under side of the shoe I3. The finger 18 projects from a block I9 sliding on pins 89 which block has teeth forming a rack 9| (see Figure 12). The rack is engaged by segmental pinion 82 pivoted on the standard 83 and connected by a lever and link 94 to an arm 95.

The arm 85 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a standard 83 and is actuated by a cam 81. The cam 81 is preferably made as shown in Figure 4, with two cam surfaces 88 and 89 one for raising the head sleeve and bar of the head 43 and the other for positively depressing these elements by reason of two ends 90 and 9| on the arm 85, each end having a roller for engaging the cam surfaces. This construction provides a positive control for the arm as each head approaches and when it leaves the lifting finger.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The operator sits at the position shown at a in Figure 2 and the machine is started by connecting the clutch 23,the burners having been lighted. The position of the sleeve 59 and bar 60 are as shown in Figure 13 below the surface 43 of the head and the clamp 61 is open. The stem 51 is placed in the open clamp and a bulb 43 placed in the bulb support 46. The cam 32 now advances the cover to the next position and the machine halts for supplying the next head. At the next movement the cover again advances without any effect on the lamp bulb and filament to hold the stem 51 firmly in place. The whole device rides on the cam height under successive heating until the bulb approaches, by this step-by-ste'p movement, the main burner at c (Figure 2).

At this point the heated glass is at such a tem-- perature that the neck of the bulb folds inwardly as shown in dotted outline at 92 in Figure 17, the cullet 93 is severed and drops down to the surface 44 of the head, the glass curls up under the flare 93 of the filament.

At this time the bulb is sealed and is now ready for stretching the neck of the bulb. This is done by allowing the weight of the sleeve 59 and the bar 60 to be applied to the heated neck of the bulb. As the bulb leaves the burners c the shoes BI and 63 travel down inclines on the cams 62 and 84 as shown at d in Figure 6. The drop is suificient to pull the curled over end 92 downwardly to stretch it slightly, the cullet 92 having been cut off from the bulb by the flame. The stretching not only straightens the stem 51 but it also pulls down the neck of the bulb while hot and after scaling in order to minimize seal cracks and strains in the glass at the seal. The stretching is done practically instantaneously. As the bulb is advanced during and after the stretching it cools and when it arrives at a, the point of beginning the sleeve 59 and bar 60 have again disappeared below the inclined surface oi! the platform 43. The bulb is now removed by the operator and the cullet 93 rolls off the platform or head 43 into the gutter l2. This makes it unnecessary for the operator to handle the hot parts or contact the heated posts 45 or other hot parts. The glass fragments are carried along in the gutter by the wiper i6, as described herein before. While halted at the point a the finishedbulb is removed, the cullet 93 drops off the head as shown in Figure 11, the new filament and bulb are inserted in the machine and the parts again move on.

If the machine is to be halted it can be done without shutting off the flames by stopping the machine, by the handle 23 when the bulbs are underway between burners.

Various changes can be made in the form and proportion of parts without departing from the scope oi the invention.

62 and maintains its,

a rotatable cover, a

I claim:-

1. A sealing machine for glass bulbs comprising a standard, a fixed circular tray on the standard, the tray having a peripheral wall, the tray having an unobstructed marginal gutter beyond the wall, a rotatable cover for the tray, and with its edge close to the wall, a series 01 heads on the cover, bulb retaining clamps on the heads, stem grasping means in the heads, and means entirely within the cover for rotating the heads, and means within the cover for actuating the stem-grasping means, the enclosure of said means in the head insuring an unobstructed gutter for the reception and removal of severed cullets.

2. A sealing machine as set forth in claim 1, having heads provided with outwardly inclined tops whereby severed cullets are deposited in the gutter.

3. In a sealing machine, a head having a cen- I tral vertical bearing, a sleeve slidable in the bearing, a tip on the sleeve, a bar in the sleeve, said bar being slidable in the sleeve and having a hollow top end, a tapered part on the inside of the sleeve, clamps normally apart and positioned to be fngaged by the tapered part of the sleeve into c amping position, a support for conveying the head and cams for controlling the vertical positions of the bar and sleeve of the head as they are conveyed, said sleeve and bar being disposed so that they can be depressed below the top of the head.

4. In a sealing machine, a head having a central vertical bearing, a sleeve slidable in the bearing, a tip on the sleeve, a bar in the sleeve, said bar being slidable in the sleeve and having a hollow top end, a tapered part on the inside of the sleeve, clamps normally apart and positioned to be engaged by the tapered part of the sleeve into clamping position, a support for conveying the head and cams for controlling the vertical positions of the bar and sleeve of the head as they ,are conveyed, said sleeve and bar being disposed so that they can be depressed below the top oi. the head, said head having an inclinedtop face for. shedding parts removed from the bulb.

5. A sealing machine for glass bulbs comprising head on the cover, a bulb retaining clamp on the head, stem grasping means slidable vertically in the head for movement both beyond and within the head, the head having an inclined top in order to shed glass fragments from the head when the grasping means is below the top face of the head and the said top face is thereby unobstructed, and means under the cover for operating the grasping means.

CHARLES EISLER. 

